penned 1 of 3

adjective

as in enclosed

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penned

2 of 3

verb (1)

past tense of pen
as in housed
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers remember to pen up the dogs when visitors come over

Synonyms & Similar Words

penned

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of pen
as in wrote
to compose and set down on paper the words of though relatively unknown at the time of his death, the composer had penned some of the most memorable show tunes of his era

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of penned
Adjective
Meanwhile, fashion designer Stella McCartney penned sombr’s tribute, connecting the young artist’s musical upbringing and praising his ability to turn those influences into something that is vastly his own. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026 According to the outlets, the complaint alleges Kristin Wert was struck from behind, thrown into the air and trampled after Party Bus escaped the penned area. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 Writer and vocalist Linda Perry was later inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and penned hits for Pink, Christina Aguilera, and Adele. — Ryan Brennan april 8, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026 Michael McGrale also co-penned. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
The indie feature, penned by McClure with Tyke Caravelli, brings to life a true story about a hero dog that miraculously survived severe neglect and abuse. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026 After a quiet 2026, Doechii has also penned a handwritten letter to fans. — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 12 Oct. 2026 Zhao Jun, a longtime Chinese TV writer and producer, penned the series. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026 The sequel, which made its world premiere last month at Fantastic Fest, is co-directed by Nate Wilson and Chris Nash, who also penned the script. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026 OpenAI shared a portion of its internal memo to employees, sent by its research leaders, with Fortune—presumably penned by Mark Chen, chief research officer, though the company did not specify. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 Paszkowski penned the distinctive exterior, incorporating layered decks as a nod to Japanese pavilion architecture and a sleek, angular superstructure inspired by a katana. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026 Following defeat in this summer’s World Cup final, the Argentine captain penned a handwritten letter explaining his decision to step down from the national team. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 This week in Beijing, when asked about the letter penned by France and Germany, a spokesperson at China’s Ministry of Commerce said that the countries should refrain from encouraging the EU to resort to protectionist measures. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penned
  1. enclosed
  2. housed
  3. wrote
  4. caged
  5. included
  6. imprisoned
  7. encased
  8. bolted
Adjective
  • There’s a mirrored hallway that shines like a disco ball, artwork painted by a co-owner, a DJ booth prominent in the dining space and, open to the air, sidewalk seating and a semi-enclosed patio.
    — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
  • Owners can opt for a semi-enclosed galley, which adds a bit of space from the main saloon, or can fully enclose the galley for more separation.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 4 July 2026
Definition of enclosed
Verb
  • On Thursday, the Kansas City Royals and architecture firm Populous revealed new renderings for the stadium, which will be housed in Crown Center.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The service station, which was in a small town on the Adriatic Coast, also housed a restaurant.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of housed
Verb
  • Jo also inherited hundreds of letters that Vincent wrote and received, most exchanged with Theo.
    — Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Following his release from jail, Archer published his prison diaries, carried on with his charity work and wrote more novels.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of wrote
Adjective
  • Traveling with a coffin and a caged panther, Claire hasn’t come alone.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The shoes are known for their intricate, cage-like strappy design featuring a high T-bar silhouette that connects the toe straps directly to a caged heel.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of caged
Verb
  • Levine praises a call from Israel’s president Levine was recovering Sunday from injuries that included what appeared to be stab wounds in her buttocks, which required stitches.
    — Cara Anna, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Clothed safari guides in white hats and suits with fake mustaches greeted the guests, who included Sharon Bush, Peter Thomas Roth, Susan Gutfreund, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Paola Bacchini, Leesa Rowland, and Jacqueline Weld Drake.
    — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of included
Adjective
  • The favorite to win Brazil’s election has promised to free his imprisoned father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, grant amnesty to supporters and impeach Supreme Court justices.
    — Marina Dias, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The company is required by its contract and state policy to provide mental health treatment, education and other services to imprisoned youth.
    — Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of imprisoned
Verb
  • The arthropod group includes animals that are without a backbone or any bones at all, strictly speaking, their bodies being encased in a ringed, exterior tegument and having legs and, sometimes, wings.
    — Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • On the best of days a dank stillness would have encased the adobe chamber and those confined within.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of encased
Adjective
  • Sondheimer has bloodied his hands climbing over a fence to exit a bolted stadium.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike standard wheels, which rely solely on air pressure to push the tire against the rim, beadlocks use a bolted outer ring to physically sandwich the tire in place.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 June 2026
Definition of bolted

Browse Nearby Words

pennants
penned
penniless
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Cite this Entry

“Penned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penned. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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